It was a cool morning of good running weather, damp but with no rain, as Sophie, Dike, Amina, Dan, Leo and I joined the crowd gathered at the start line of Prince's parkrun. We all made good time on our two and a half loops around the park, waving at Lucien on our way past as he fed the ducks and cheered us on. At the beginning of the year Sallyann had the brilliant idea to encourage people to join for our monthly social by giving us all special custom loyalty cards and bribing us to turn up to parkrun and/or breakfast with the promise of adding a star sticker each time. Part of the grand vision of her plan was that each month we would also choose a new cafe to try that we hadn't been to before, and so get to decide the best local breakfast. At September's session, Sallyann upped the stakes even further by handing out GOLD star stickers instead of the already very exciting silver we were used to. This month she was away, thinking that she was safe to pass sticker duty into Lucien's trustworthy hands, but without her we descended into sticker chaos! We are already into month ten of the year in parkrun, and running out of ideas for new cafes. We decided it would be acceptable to return to our previous regular The Third Cafe, since we hadn't been there this year. Sophie and Amina headed home while the rest of us went for breakfast, hoping that this would not jeopardise our star! Luckily Sallyann confirmed that she only needed the group photo as proof of who had made up the group that morning... but this led to subterfuge and deception as a certain member made such a convincing fake version of the group photo including her that we were suddenly certain we remembered a strange stick figure with a big smile jogging in our midst! Given that she missed parkrun because she was doing a different and longer run, I think at least half a star is owed to Bekah for that, and at least another half for creativity and nerve! This is why I'm not allowed to make the rules....

This mid-October task began with four Goodgym runners assembling at the Hope Street Suitcases. Run leader Sophie led the group through a sequence of stretches, warming us up ready for a steady run over to the evening's task destination: Mulgrave Street Action Group (MSAG), where another five members joined up to make an overall team of nine. [If you want the extra exercise, the pre-task jog remains a strong (optional) feature of Monday evening activity.]

For the uninitiated, MSAG is the L8 oasis, headed up by local resident, Khan Odita. The stuff of local legend, Khan's efforts brought about the transformation of a small patch of roadside waste land into a vibrant community garden, and Goodgym have regularly supported its maintenance over the years since.

The MSAG task ahead: planting out seventeen small shrub plants to introduce a new lease of green leaved life to the garden's flower beds.

Before devoting ourselves to shrubs, another special arrival merited priority attention, that of a truly extraordinary member of Goodgym Liverpool Taskforce... Bekah, whose attendance this evening saw her reach the awesome milestone achievement of 100 tasks completed! A(nother) centurion in our midst at Goodgym Liverpool 😀

Bekah, ever slick, casually trotted up to task, in the flow of volunteer business as usual. But such an ordinary and low-key arrival would not do. Siân stepped in with polite firmness, requesting that Bekah might leave and arrive again, allowing time for final touches to the intended honorary reception.

And so it was that Bekah re-arrived, breaking through the streams of blue ribbon strung up between two gateposts, further decorated in balloons and pompoms. Cue whoops of applause from smiling friends, blowing bubbles of Goodgym cheer all around (thank you to Lucien's ever-ready supply of bubbles!). Dan presented Bekah with a shiny golden rosette medal, adding a touch of red-carpet glitz and glamour, with paparazzi snaps and clips from Clara, on camera.

All this highly dramatic and low budget fanfare was, or course, in recognition of Bekah's century of dedication, kindness and supremely thorough organisation, supporting 100 good deeds of community action across Liverpool. Congratulations and thank you, Bekah West.

Floating on the high of celebration it was, predictably, err, Bekah, who got us back on task, facilitating our opening circle time for Goodgym introductions, before handing over to the task owner, Khan, conductor of much MSAG magic.

Khan talked us through his grand garden design plans: to bed in new shrub life amongst the garden's flower bedful of existing surprises. Then, before letting loose our untamed horticultural enthusiasm, Khan helpfully shared a few basic and vital planting-out tips: (i) locate the potted shrubs he had already laid out in their intended positions, (ii) prepare the earth by making a hole big enough to contain them i.e. dig deep, then dig deeper and then dig deeper still, (iii) apply tender pressure all around the outside of the pot to help gently loosen the shrub, and then, finally, (iv) lift and place the shrub into the hole, filling in the sides and pressing it firmly down into the crumbly soil foundations of its new home.

We all set about the task with a degree of relaxed confidence. We'd been (sh)rubbing shoulders with a centurion after all (or two or three, with Sophie in the mix and a special guest VIP on the way). Selecting from the digging tools provided, wiser gardeners of the group ploughed forth with the heave-ho might of a trusty spade, whilst the less experienced picked up trowels and proceeded to scrape away tirelessly at the ground, to little or no effect.

Success stories included Claire, who had arrived early and begun gardening ahead of time, clearly well in the groove of shrub re-housing work. Naser procured a pair of protective gloves to enable him to get stuck in, and some, combining his characteristic strength and speed. Leonardo's technical nous and eye for illumination saw him transform more shadowy spots of the garden, by activating the long beam feature on the portable night lights, with a couple of simple clicks. A well-earned cheer here, please, for each volunteer.

By the end of an hour, each shrub had vacated its pot to find a new permanent home sunk into Mulgrave Steet's own Mother Earth. The stand-out beauty amongst the new set was a blooming, white-flowered hydrangea. In case unaware or unclear of hydrangea colour magic, some hydrangeas produce different coloured flowers, depending on the soil: blue flowers in acid soils and pink flowers in alkaline soils. White hydrangeas, however, mostly remain white whatever the soil type, though may turn pinkish in maturity. Watch. This. Hydrangea.

Congregating back together with the task completed, Khan treated us to thank you refreshments sourced from the mosque restaurant diagonally opposite the garden. Eleanor was thrilled to receive an unexpected chai tea latte, all the better to toast the arrival of, as described in recent media coverage, Goodgym Liverpool legend, Pauline. Did you know that Pauline achieved the spectacular record of 1000 Goodgym tasks, no less!

And so, members past and present basked in the beaming satisfaction of time and effort spent together, sharing around celebratory small oranges and individually wrapped chocolates. The group then gently dispersed from Mulgrave Street, with runners crackling through fallen leaves along the pavement. I (Dan) felt a refreshed spring in my running step, stirred by admiration for Bekah and pride in Goodgym, in all its glory! Yes, I had (sh)rubbed soldiers with a new centurion joining the Goodgym Liverpool Great Hall of Kindness, prompting my shoulders, I divulge, to shimmy, just a little, with more than just a little joy!